lcoffiE to HEEPSCOMBE remaips a Pictures: Bichard Besent C22241 3-D801 & C222413-D803 (bottom) "peaceftrl valley" more than 175 years after.the phrase was * first used to describe it. Nowadays almost everybody Broncunces the name of the village as lt sounds, although in the past some have referred to it as Shepscombe and in one 13th Century document it was recorded as Sebbescombe. The village. lvlth its stone cottages dotted along steep and narro\y lanes. is fringed $'ith acres ofl ii'oods and common iand. At the beginning of the 19th Centur-v- Sheepscombe had three mills employing a majorin' ol the men from the village, along n-ith eight unlicensed ale houses. In her book Old Cotswold, Edith Bril] ivrote that the clothiers' records from the time showed that, "the conduct of the men rvas so riotous, even at work, that the o\rner was sometimes obliged to close don'n and turn them ali out for part of the da-v to quell the tumult". Sheepscombe's reputation is said to have improved with the arrival of the curate the Rev Charles Neville and his wife Agnes in 1817. Mrs Neville revived the village Sunday school, originally set up in 1780, and walked the two miles between and Sheepscombe in all weathers to teach Her work inspired her raise money to build a church for the village and the idea caught the imagination of the mill workers, a delegation of whom went to the curate offering their labour. The church was completed by 1820 and Mr Neville became Sheepscombe's frrst vicar. In 1825 the "transformation" of Sheepscombe was recotded in a tract written by the Rev Hugh Stowell, called The Peaceful Valleywhich sited the village's' Sunday school as an example to the rest of the country But some believe his claims that the people of Sheepscombe were wild and unruly before the church was built to be unfair. They include Elisabeth Skinner from the Sheepscombe History Society She said: "The story ofSheepscombe being a wild place was largely based on The Peaceful Valley which had the sub title The Influence of Religion. "While I would not want to underplay I A SHlt{|l{G EXAIIPLE: John Bousfield, one of the church wardens at St John's The the work of the Nevilles in any wa54 Apostle Church in Sheepscombe, lighting a candle ready for Sunday service. Stowell was trving fo sav hmrr had tha "While I would not want to underplay I A SHll{|l{G EXAtIPLE: John Bousfield, one of the church wardens at St John's The the work of the Nevilles in any way Apostle Church in Sheepscombe, lighting a candle ready for Sunday service. Stowell was trying to say how bad the village was before the church came John Bousfield has been a church school and everybody in it. years, and how good it became afterwards. " warden for four sharing his "There is very much a family ethos," duties with Gordou Horner. "Parts of lvhat he said were probably he said. "We try to bring out the best true I don't see hou'. looking at all of Previously John wound the church in every individual. The whole ethos is the evidence, that Sheepscombe should clock for 20 years before the process to promote the confidence of each have been any worse than other cloth became automated. child to give them the security to making communities in the The retired dentist moved to the attempt challenges they might not be able a Valleys." village 40 years ago afterJoining a to attempt in larger school." Elisabeth, who teaches local surgery in . He is a former The Butcher's Arms, built in the 1600s, government at the University of the chairman of the Sheepscombe Society was previously two cottages. One of its West of , moved to which organises a varied programme ceilings is higher than the rest and it Sheepscombe in 1949 and became ofevents every year. And during the is assumed this was where deer used interested in its past after starting her 1970s, he was one ofa number of to be hung to mature. Open University degree in history in parents who fought education bosses The pub's carved wooden sign, 1975. She has noticed many changes to seeking to close the village primary showing a butcher with a pint of beer the village over the years. schooL and a pig strapped to his leg, is one of photographed "Farming has all but disappeared from "There was a move to close it because the most in the countrlr the Sheepscombe valley" she said. it had so few children, we petitioned The Butcher's Arms is owned by cajoled "The countryside is not managed in and and in the end they Johnny and Hilary Johnston, who also didn'1." pubs the way it was when I was a child and nrn flve other in it is now a lot wilder. What stands out With its 53 pupils, Sheepscombe and Wiltshire. is the number of trees that have grown Primary is still one of the smallest The couple used to live near London on the common. It used to be schools in the county and went into the licensed trade after completely bare." The majority of its pupils live in the their children had grown up. Sheepscombe Church attracts many village but a number are also drawn in Previously Hilary was a secretary and visitors who comment on the peace from the surrounding area. Johnny a civil engineer. and quiet they find there. Headteacher Stan Giles is proud ofthe Laurie Lee knew Sheepscombe well as I nternet - www. gloucestercitizen.co. u k In our weekly feature reporter Sul hamlets across the Stroud area n heart of their communities.... lf ll!'t##si?..#.;ffiffit ;iii r ll$E the '-1 c22241 3-D805 . ,peacelul r-,:' ffiG

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I PICTURESQUE: The road to the Far End past Cotswold cottages. past c222413-D897 generations of his mother's family the village's table tennis club where he lifetime managing the woods, which came from the village. Several years is only the second president in almost cover 120 hectares (296.4 acres) and ago the author bought the village's hill 70 years. He replaced AIex Rogers who cross the boundaries ofPainswick, top cricket pitch and rented it to the once owned a vegetarian guest house Cranham and Miserden. players local team. in the village. There are now 12 John, who moved to Sheepscombe in practise Laurie, who enjoyed watching the who in the village hall and 1949, was honoured for his role as the cricket at Sheepscombe, also gave play in the Stroud, Cheltenham and National Trust's Forestry Adviser for money towards the pavilion. Cirencester leagues. England, Wales and Northern lreland. Ken, who has lived in Sheepscombe The club will soon be celebrating its In 1989 he gave Workman's Wood to the centenary although no one is really since 1949, has been the treasurer of years charity and in 1993 it was named a sure if it should be this year or next. the church for 25 and was centre of excellence by the Forestry previously a church warden. Player Joe Skinner said games were Authority of England. "Sheepscombe is a great viJlage," he deflnitely played on the field in 1904. The award recogaised John's style of said. "In 1904 we know that Sheepscombe woodland management which seeks to played Cranham. We reckon "It is always a job to know where to go balance landscape, the timber trade, Sheepscombe was formed two years on holiday when you live in a place as conservation and access for leisure before that," he said. "Sheepscombe beautiful as this." pursuits. has the prettiest cricket ground in the The woods around Sheepscombe were "I hive been able to demonstrate that area. It looks down the Painswick long part of the ancient Ebworth Estate you can have multiple objectives for valley towards Frocester. You can see and are thought to have been used as a woodlands," he said. "There is a the Severn Bridge on a clear day" deer park by the lords of Painswick balance." Manor for more than 500 years.. Joe, who is currently studying for a There are four rights of way through sports degree, has been playing cricket They were purchased by the qualifled Workman's Wood and John believes since he was 14 and is a Woodchester timber merchant Henry they, and Sheepscombe itself, are best coach for Gloucestershire. Workman in 1901 and recogaised as a explored as part of a longer walk This year he started a youth cricket nature reserve in 1976. starting further along the valley" club in the village. yeaX, In the same the land was named All of Sheepscombe's approaches are Joe's grandfather Ken French is a Workman's Wood in honour of the steep and narrow and there is virtually former president of the cricket club. family nowhere to park when you amive," he Ken's sporting interests also include John Workman OBE has spent a said. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAX JULY 26,2002 9 : Painter visits villages and reeting the personalities at the val

BUTGHERS.. Hilary Johnston, who runs the Butcher's Arms with husband Johnny, above, and one of the most photographed signs in the country, left, of a butcher with a pint of beer and a pig strapped to his leq.